Our Story

English philosopher Dean William Inge described the aim of education as “the knowledge, not of facts, but of values“.

Situated on a unique, 270-hectare campus in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Treverton School is a Christian boarding school catering for boys and girls from Grades 000 to 12 as well as our G.A.P. Year programme.

An Independent Private School, Treverton is in membership with the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa.

Treverton provides an educational environment like no other, and is dedicated to giving young adults a head start in life which is relevant and appropriate to today’s fast moving, ever changing world.

Come and visit our beautiful campus and experience all that Treverton has to offer!

Mission & Vision

It has been the fundamental aim of Treverton, from its inception, to provide what it does with values that are centrally focused around a strong Christian Ethos. Treverton therefore aims to encourage pupils to reach their fullest potential academically, to develop to their highest level of sporting excellence and also to nurture a third important area – the spiritual aspect.

Our Mission is to provide a balanced all-round quality education based on a strong Christian foundation

The original Treverton Preparatory School for Boys operated on the present Prep School site in from 1939 until 1957 when the administrators decided to close the school and put the property up for sale in 1961.The Rev Sydney Hudson-Reed, then President of the Baptist Union of South Africa, cherished the idea of establishing a school embracing the Baptist ethos. He visited the derelict Treverton in 1963, shared his enthusiasm with friends and encouraged his brother Derek Hudson-Reed, a teacher at St Stithians, to visit the school site. This nucleus of dedicated and farsighted men was responsible for establishing the Treverton Trust, organising the purchase of the property, applying their organisational skills and also forming weekend work parties to assist with the transformation of the old buildings. The Preparatory School opened in 1964 with 51 pupils under the headmastership of Derek Hudson-Reed, who took the school through to the first Matric class in 1970. The commitment and resolve of these men who became founder governors was to increase the size of the school property and establish a high school. The Mooi River Municipality donated 73 acres of adjoining land and a neighbouring farm was purchased.

In 1968, the first four classrooms and a staffroom were built for the College and it was decided that the two schools should operate separately. The first College hostel, Harland House, was completed. Mr John Robertson was appointed College Headmaster, while Derek Hudson-Reed continued as Prep Headmaster. Two future Headmasters Jeff Fetting and Alan Staples were appointed to the teaching staff. In 1978, Treverton became a co-ed school with the enrolment of girls at the Prep in 1978 and at the College in 1979.

The eighties witnessed a number of changes: Derek Hudson-Reed became Rector, with Jeff Fetting, Headmaster at the Prep and Alan Staples at the College. The school hosted an international environmental conference in 1982, reinforcing it’s leadership in environmental education. The schools also opened their doors to students of all races. The late Neil Solomon, a College teacher, developed the Outdoor Pursuits Award System and implemented the Post Matric Course in 1986. Founder Headmaster Derek Hudson-Reed retired in 1987. College’s first Girls’ Hostel, Trew House was completed and in 1989 a second girl’s hostel Lind House was established.

The last decade of the century saw more girls enrolling at the College, which led to extensions to Lind House. In 1990 two stalwarts in the founding and development of the school the Rev Sydney Hudson-Reed and Rita Burdett both retired. Further improvements to amenities included the half Olympic size pool, the College sanatorium, Post Matric Centre, a new College classroom block and the establishment of the College Computer Centre.

An extensive building programme resulted in the Alan Staples Centre with its auditorium/chapel, library, computer centre and administrative offices. Improvements to sporting facilities included an Astroturf, additions to the squash courts and heating for the main swimming pool.

A multi-disciplinary Equestrian Centre was developed and the school farm evolved into the Treverton Wildlife Area. The indigenous antelope were re-introduced and and systems put in place for the protection of a range of eco-systems; these have contributed to maintaining the school’s strong environmental education bias.

New senior staff have replaced those who played such a vital role in the first forty years. Bob Reynolds became Head of Resources; on the retirement of Jeff Fetting, Les Stanley became the Prep headmaster, later followed by Mark Chaperon; Graham Nolan was appointed Headmaster of the College, followed by the current Headmaster, Dave Cato. Noel Coetzee replaced Alan Staples as Executive Head, until the end of August 2014. Lind House has recently been extended to provide accommodation for a further 16 girls.

What differentiates us?

We offer pupils a unique campus life, back to basics,
free from city distractions with a strong sense of community, faith and family! Our extensive Outdoor Education Programme offers pupils the chance to challenge themselves.